Bolivia > Pro Mujer Bolivia

About the Field Partner

Field Partner:	Pro Mujer Bolivia
Field Partner Risk Rating:	(Learn more)
Time On Kiva:	28 months
Kiva Entrepreneurs:	5128
Total Loans:	$1,361,350
Delinquency Rate:	0.00%
Default Rate:	0.00%
Currency Exchange Loss Rate:	0.00%
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Kiva Fundraising Status

Fundraising Status:	Active
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Other Information Sources

MIX Profile:	View MIX Profile
Network Affiliation:	Pro Mujer (Programs for Women) International
Social Performance Reporting Level:	Reporting to MIX
Consumer Protection Principles:	N/A
Field Partner Website:	View Website
Email Contact:	cescobar@pro-mujer.org

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Pro Mujer offers loan capital for the women’s small-scale businesses and opportunities to save a portion of their profits through the communal bank structure. Bolivia is a very competitive environment for microfinance, and Pro Mujer has successfully carved out its niche as one that reaches the most marginalized women, typically migrants from the rural areas to the poor neighborhoods surrounding major cities such as La Paz. These women bring their skills and strong convictions to provide for their families, but very few are able to access the formal financial institutions, even the specialized regulated institutions. For these women, credit alone does not serve their needs. Pro Mujer provides an alternative delivery system for its credit services, the group oriented communal banks which appeals to women traditionally accustomed to working in community groups. Secondly, Pro Mujer offers integrated credit and training services which few other organizations offer.

Already operating in four departments, in 2002, Pro Mujer opened two new regional centers: one in Potosí, and the other in Santa Cruz. There are great expectations, especially in Santa Cruz, because it is a growing market where communal banks represent a new option for women who don’t have access to credit. To guarantee their success, Pro Mujer Bolivia selected experienced personnel from other regional centers and local personnel from the area. In 2003 Pro Mujer Bolivia expects to bring its services into the states of Beni and Pando, isolated areas where the need for credit is substantial. The few institutions that have been able to operate in those distant areas do not reach Pro Mujer’s target population.

Due to women’s living conditions in those regions, non-financial services will have an excellent acceptance and provide the value added difference that will distinguish them from other purely financial institutions.

NON-FINANCIAL SERVICES

Business Training

Pro Mujer’s Business Development Center has educated more than 20,000 clients on the principles of small business development. The curriculum consists of several training modules and suggested action plans for business startups. The center also provides individualized assistance to clients who are already business owners, to help them improve their businesses.

HEALTH AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Pro Mujer’s services focus mainly on health and personal development education, but more recently Pro Mujer has begun offering legal education and support, making women aware of their rights and know how to get help if needed, in cases of domestic violence for example. In 2002, the Health and Personal Development services provided information on sexual and reproductive health to more than 8,000 clients, surpassing its goals by 20%. The service also includes basic primary care and administered PAP tests for early cancer detection as well as STIs. Over 4,000 children were treated for respiratory infections and diarrhea, and more than 1,600 children received the required vaccinations.

Computer Center

Pro Mujer Bolivia's pioneering computer center for our clients' children opened in December 2000. The center was established with funds from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation sponsored by Peter Hagedorn and Miriam Trahan. The center currently serves more than 1500 children and teenagers who receive basic literacy, word processing and spread sheet analysis.